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FOXBORO, Mass. – Shane Vereen wasn’t much of a hockey fan growing up. Moving to Boston has changed that for him.

Vereen grew up in Valencia, Calif., about 30 minutes outside of Los Angeles, but he never really became all that enamored with the L.A. Kings or the sport in general. But, when the Patriots drafted him in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft, Vereen was thrown right into the middle of Boston’s diehard hockey fanbase and his attitude changed.

“Back in California, I didn’t really watch hockey all that much. A couple of my friends played, but I didn’t make time to watch it,” Vereen said. “But ever since I moved out here, I have a newfound respect for it.”

Without any preceding loyalties, Vereen embraced the local hockey culture and took up the Bruins as his favorite team.

As for Monday night’s thrilling Game 7 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, it seems Vereen went through the full gamut of emotions along with the city of Boston.

“Yeah. I was very disheartened when they went down 4-1,” Vereen added. “But there was still time left, and there’s one thing we learned in football is that the game is not over until it’s over. They fought back. I thought it was an incredible game.”

Vereen may not be a proper Bostonian by birth, but it seems he’s acclimating quite well.